Still a looker at eighty-something, Ellen Burstyn possesses the elusive triple crown of showbiz—an Oscar, a Tony and an Emmy. Add her Golden Globe and Bafta, and you’ve got yourself an acting legend.
Audiences watched in horror as Burstyn wrestled her devil-daughter in The Exorcist, but offscreen she battled real-life demons. At eighteen, she escaped an abusive childhood in Detroit to pursue acting. Money was tight, and she often relied on gentlemen callers for food. Eventually, she got several parts on television. Film roles followed.
In 1971, her breakthrough performance in The Last Picture Show got nominated for an academy award. She was also nominated for her incredible role as an addict in Requiem for a Dream. She was robbed of an Oscar. By Julia Roberts’ cleavage in Erin Brockovich, which wasn’t even half as good.
Plagued by problems with the fellas, the thrice-divorced actress was stalked by her third ex and forced to hire bodyguards until his suicide in 1978. Down but not out, her career continued and so did the accolades. To this day, the iconic actress shows no signs of retiring.
So far Ellen Burstyn has appeared nude in four films and her greatest nude scene is definitely from Tropic of Cancer, where there’s a full frontal shot of her lying sideways on the bed and revealing her bush. Very naughty.